F1 Azerbaijan GP | McLaren struggles as Lando Norris calls every missed win a lost opportunity. Lando Norris reflects on a disappointing Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

F1 Baku GP | Lando Norris reflects on a disappointing Azerbaijan Grand Prix

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was another tough weekend for McLaren, with both drivers leaving Baku frustrated. Oscar Piastri was eliminated on the very first lap, leaving Lando Norris with the task of salvaging some points. However, the British driver could not make significant progress and settled for a modest seventh-place finish, far from what he had hoped for in the 2025 Formula 1 season.

In theory, Norris had the chance to reduce the gap to his teammate in the championship standings, but the reality on track told a different story. Despite having a more competitive car, Norris struggled to overtake drivers such as Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson, and even Charles Leclerc in the early stages of the race. Only later, thanks to fresher tyres and superior performance, did he manage to get past Charles Leclerc, but the damage was already done in terms of lost time and lost momentum.

The seventh-place finish leaves Norris now 25 points behind the current leader in the drivers’ standings. With Max Verstappen closing in on the title contenders, the margin for error in the second half of the season is shrinking fast, and every missed opportunity could prove decisive in the battle for the championship.

Lando Norris on Baku: every race not won is a missed chance

Speaking after the race, Lando Norris explained that he had given everything he could, both in qualifying and in the Grand Prix itself. He underlined how each weekend offers potential rewards, but also stressed that every race not converted into a victory feels like a wasted opportunity. The McLaren driver admitted that qualifying had not gone well, which left him starting from a less than ideal position. Even so, he believed the outcome of the race would not have changed much, given how difficult overtaking proved to be around the streets of Baku.

“I gave it everything, both yesterday and today. Every weekend brings opportunities, and every race not won is a missed chance. Of course, I wanted more, but I did what was possible with the circumstances. Qualifying was disappointing, and maybe I could have started a few places higher, but in the race it wouldn’t have made a big difference. Overtaking was almost impossible today, even if our pace was solid,” Norris explained as he summed up his weekend.

Despite the setback, Norris remains firmly in the championship battle. However, with McLaren unable to maximize its potential in Baku, the team knows it cannot afford many more weekends like this if it wants to stay in contention against Ferrari and Red Bull. The coming races will be critical for Lando Norris to prove he can turn solid performances into consistent podiums and, ideally, race victories.